PITTSBURGH JAZZ

From Blakey to Brown, Como to Costa, Eckstine to Eldridge, Galbraith to Garner, Harris to Hines, Horne to Hyman, Jamal to Jefferson, Kelly to Klook; Mancini to Marmarosa, May to Mitchell, Negri to Nestico, Parlanto Ponder, Reed to Ruther, Strayhorn to Sullivan, Turk to Turrentine, Wade to Williams… the forthcoming publication Treasury of Pittsburgh Jazz Connections by Dr. Nelson Harrison and Dr. Ralph Proctor, Jr. will document the legacy of one of the world’s greatest jazz capitals.

Do you want to know who Dizzy Gillespie idolized? Did you ever wonder who inspired Kenny Clarke and Art Blakey? Who was the pianist that mentored Monk, Bud Powell, Tad Dameron, Elmo Hope, Sarah Vaughan and Mel Torme? Who was Art Tatum’s idol and Nat Cole’s mentor? What musical quartet pioneered the concept adopted later by the Modern Jazz Quartet? Were you ever curious to know who taught saxophone to Stanley Turrentine or who taught piano to Ahmad Jamal? What community music school trained Robert McFerrin, Sr. for his history-making debut with the Metropolitan Opera? What virtually unknown pianist was a significant influence on young John Coltrane, Shirley Scott, McCoy Tyner, Bobby Timmons and Ray Bryant when he moved to Philadelphia from Pittsburgh in the 1940s? Would you be surprised to know that Erroll Garner attended classes at the Julliard School of Music in New York and was at the top of his class in writing and arranging proficiency?

Some answers can be gleaned from the postings on the Pittsburgh Jazz Network.

For almost 100 years the Pittsburgh region has been a metacenter of jazz originality that is second to no other in the history of jazz. One of the best kept secrets in jazz folklore, the Pittsburgh Jazz Legacy has heretofore remained mythical. We have dubbed it “the greatest story never told” since it has not been represented in writing before now in such a way as to be accessible to anyone seeking to know more about it. When it was happening, little did we know how priceless the memories would become when the times were gone.

Today jazz is still king in Pittsburgh, with events, performances and activities happening all the time. The Pittsburgh Jazz Network is dedicated to celebrating and showcasing the places, artists and fans that carry on the legacy of Pittsburgh's jazz heritage.

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Volora Howell's Page

Profile Information

Volora ! is a new music variety show, based on the New York/Metro music scene. The show originally provided entertainment to the New York and New Jersey metropolitan market place since 1998.
Volora is a weekly, 30-minute variety/magazine show that focuses on and Soul, Classic Soul, Smooth Jazz, Neo-Soul and today’s R&B.
Similar to the Metro-Vibe..s format, Volora ! features celebrity performers such as Grammy Award winner John Legend, Diana Ross, Donna Summers, Melba Moore, Regina Bell; Chaka Khan, Ledisi; Grammy Award Winner Composer Gordon Chambers, Def Jam’s Karina Pasian as well as
showcasing emerging talent.
The talented and very experienced Jazz Journalist and singer Volora Howell hosts , and produces this show as well as her latest CD release titled, Volora!
When you gaze into the alluring eyes of the complex and multi-faceted Volora Howell, you're looking into the windows of one cultured and classy soul. In addition to her meticulously trained musical chops and her keen eye for art, she uses the sincere warmth of her personality to bring out the very best in artists she interviews on her musical television show.
In her quest to be "the Oprah of the music variety world," Ms. Howell has been producing "The Volora Show," a half hour program focusing on stellar musical guests with revealing interviews and exclusive performances. This educational and entertaining show - produced through the entrepreneur's own Sahara Entertainment company - has risen from a prime time New York cable phenomenon boasting 850,000 viewers to a welcome addition to the programming of the nationally syndicated BET-J channel. Volora accomplished this by focusing on deserving talents of distinction primarily from the jazz and R&B realms.
Interviewing and singing with each guest, Volora proves she is the consummate hostess and has developed a significant fan base via her show and her many on-line subsidiaries.
All things considered, Volora Howell is primed to shine like never before with all of her gifts at their absolute peak of radiance. Classily combining fine arts, culture, fashion and great music - from exciting newcomers to Grammy and Tony-Award winning masters of Jazz, Classic Soul and Neo-Soul - “The Volora Show” is nothing short of a lifetime achievement for its lovely creator. “I produced this program to transcend race, sex and age as a vehicle to keep top quality music and performances alive,” Volora concludes. “For music is the heart of everyone's soul.”

We are glad to have you to join our family. Thank you for sharing your impressive resume and we look forward to being ale to share your artistry with the membership worldwide. Please add me as a friend.